Seating device and supporting structure therefor



Dec. 8, 1964 v. B. HILL 3,160,437

SEATING DEVICE AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

VA/V B. H/LL Dec. 8, 1964 v. B. HILL 3,160,437

SEATING DEVICE AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 12 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n Zi m \\\i I 7 /4 U////////////////I/S LL 7q\/ A 7M \I /06 4 %l03 i la INVENTOR. Wm B. HILL United States Patent 3 160,437 SEATING DEVIEE AND UPPGRTING STRUCTURE TEEREFQR Van B. Hill, Wiggins, Miss, nssignor of one-fourth to Jack Parsons, Wiggins, Miss, and one-fourth to Leander S. Van Landingham, In, Washingtomllfi Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,654 2 Claims. (Cl. 297-143) This invention broadly relates to an improved seating device and, in one of its more specific aspects, to a support having the seating device of the invention attached thereto. In one specific embodiment, the invention relates to an improved chair and table. a v

The invention will be described and illustrated hereinafter with specific reference to a chair as the seating device and a table as the support therefor. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that other forms of seating devices and supports may be used and the invention is not limited thereto.

Tables and chairs in present use are usually constructed as separate items and when the chair is not in use, the seat portion is normally pushed under the table with the chair back extending above the table top and the legs of the chair resting on the floor. Accordingly, when it is desired to clean the floor under the table, it is neccessary to move the chairs. Also, in instances where the quarters are cramped and space is at a premium, it is desirable that the chair backs not extend above the table surface so that it may be used when the chairs are under the table.

In accordance with one important embodiment of the present invention, a chair and a table therefor are provided whereby the chair may be supported when not in use by the under surface of the table top with the chair legs being off the floor. Thus, it is possible to store the chair under the surface of the table top and entirely off the floor and thereby overcome the above-mentioned and other disadvantages of the prior art. a

' It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel construction for a seating device.

It is still a further object to provide a novel construction for a seating-device and a. support therefor. 3

It is still a further object to provide a novel construction for a chair and a table for supporting the same,

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following detailed description and the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a chair and table for supporting the same which are constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the novel chair of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a View, partially in section and with portions thereof broken away, illustrating the construction of the hinge for the chair back of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view in elevation of the chair of FIG- URE 2 when assembled, with the chair seat being swiveled around to the right;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, with portions thereof being broken away, taken along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 1 and through the channel member and showing the transversely sliding bar in a partially extended position;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view, with portions:

thereof being broken of FIGURE 1; p

. FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, with away, taken along the lines 6 6 fully extended position which allows the outer end thereof to drop downward;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, with 7 FIGURE 5 but illustrating a modified form of transverse: ly sliding bar; 2 .7

FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, with portions thereof being broken away, illustratinga further modified form for the transversely sliding bar and with the bar being in a fully extended position; and

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 but with transversely sliding bar resting upon the roller and no longer being in a fully extended position.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1-5, the novel chairs and table for supporting the same of the invention are generally designated as 29 and include a table 21 and chairs 22. The table 21 7 includes a table top 14, to the under surface 15 of which is mounted C-shaped channel members 16 by means of screws 17 in a direction generally perpendicular to and. inward from the edge 18 of the table at about the place where the chairs 22 are to be positioned.

The chairs .22 are provided with a first U-shaped member 23 forming front legs 24 and 25, and a second U shaped member 26 forming back legs 27 and 28. A cross member 29 provided with hinge 30 extends between legs 25' and 23, thereby maintaining the same in an upright position when the chair is in use and allowing the legs 25 and 28 to be folded when the chair is not in use. A similar cross member 31 provided with hinge 32 extends between legs 24 and 27 for the same purpose.

The upper portions of U-shaped members 23 and 26 are joined by spaced cross members 35 and 36.. The cross members 35 and 36 are each joined to the U-shaped members 23 and 26 by means of brackets 37, which include spaced threaded bolts 3S passing through openings 39 in; cross members 35 and 36 held in place by means of nuts 40. I

A member provided with opening 46 extends across one end and on top of members 35 and 36, and is held in place by means of threaded bolts, which pass through openings 46, and nuts 40. The outerend of member 45 is joined by means of bolt 44 to a member 48 which isar'ranged in an upright position. bar 49, which is likewise in an upright position, is inserte d into opening 50 running longitudinally through member 43 and held in position by means of set screw 51. The upper end of bar 49 is provided with an opening 53 and extends into opening 52 in portion 55. The transversely sliding barSS is provided on its outer end'with spaced projections 57 between which theportion 55'is inserted. The spaced projections 57 are provided with matching openings 58, and the portion 55 is'provided with an opening 59. A pin 66) extends through openings 53, 59 and 58 to thereby join the bar 49, portion 55 and bar 56and provide for hinged movement between bars 49 and'56. The bar 56'is of a size to slide easily along y .thelongitudinal opening 63 in'Q-shaped channel member 16.' As best seen in FIGURES 5-12, a plurality of rollers 64 are rotatably mounted on cylindrical extensions 65;} which extend through openings 66 in member 16. .T he rollers 64 may be constructed of plastic, metalorother' suitable substances, The transversely .sliding bar. 156'; rides on top of rollers 64,, to thereby slessen-frictioniand The lower end ofv enable the chair 22 to be easily moved from the position shown at 69 to the position shown at 68.

A swivel 72, which includes a bottom portion 73 and c a top portion 74, is mounted'on and extends across the top surfaces of cross'membersy35 and 36. The swivel 72 is mounted on members 35 and 36 by means of screws 75; The top portion-Mia mounted to the under surface 77 of chair seat 78 by means of screws 79. The chair 22 is provided with a back 81 which is mounted by means of screws 89 on L-shaped member 82 provided with hinge 83. The hinge 83 includes a pin 84 extending through openings 87 in portions 85 and 85 of L-shaped member 82, thereby providing for hinged movement of portions 85 and86i The hinge 83 is also provided with a stop 88, which allows the portion'85 to move forward carrying back 81 forward to the folded position shown" at 68 in FIGURE 1 in which it lies flat on therseat 78,

but prevents backward movementpast the upright position shown in FIGURE 4.

The relative lengths of the upright bar 49 and the legs tion shown at 68 or 69, it is not necessary to bodily lift the entire assembly including bar 59 upward and place it on top of roller 64. It is only necessary. to push inward and upward on bar 95, as it is *already in position on top of roller 64 and in rolling engagement therewith,

' thereby reducing the effort required.

FIGURE 9 illustrates aimodification of the C-shaped member 16 illustrated in FIGURES 5-7. The modified 'C-shaped channel member. 99 has a longitudinal opening 102 for receiving bar 56 and is provided on its outer end 1% with a downward sloped portion 101 which allows the bar 56 to fall downward with the inner end 107 remaining on top of roller 64. Therefore, it is not necessary to first raise the entire assembly including bar 56 bodily and place it on top of roller 64 when the chair is being moved from the position shown at 67 to the positionshown at $8: or 65, as the inner end 167 is already on top? of-roller-M and in rolling engagement therewith 24, 25, 27 and; 28 are such that when the transversely I sliding bar 56 is in the substantially horizontal position shown in FIGURE 5, the legs 24, 25, 27'and 28 will not reach the floor. However, when the outer end of the transversely sliding bar 56 is dropped downward to the position shown in FIGURE-7, then the legs 24, 25, 27 and 28 may rest on the floor when unfolded 'to the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 4.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, the bar'56 is shown moved outward in opening 63 in channelmember 16 from the position illustrated in FIGUREI for the chair 22 at to reston the fioor.

68- to that illustrated for the chair 22 at 69. Upon pulling the bar 56 outward from the position illustrated for the chair 22 at 68 to that illustrated for the chair 22 at 69,

the bar 69 rides on topof rollers 64 thereby reducing friction and allowing the bar 56, the bar 49 and the chair 22 depending'therefrom to be moved outward with little effort. When the bar 56 is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 5, the chair 22 is still suspended above the "floor even when the legs are ina fully unfoldedposition suchas illustrated for th'e chair '22 at-;67. As is best seen in upon pushing inward and upward} quired. I r

FIGURE '10 illustrates a furthermodification of the bar 56 which is illustrated in FIGURE 5. The modified Thus, less effort is reformlof the bar 163} includes an outer portion 1t! and an inner portion1$5 joined by hinge 106. The position of the bar 163 as illustrated in FIGURE 10 is that which exists when the chair 22 is in the position shown at 67. The inner portion 105 remains horizontal and in position on top of the last roller 64 and the outer portion 104 is free to fall downward due to relative movement at hinge 1%, thereby allowing the bar 49 and chair 22 carried thereby to move downward and the legs 24, 25, 27 and 28 c When it is desired to move the chair 22 from the position shown at 67 to the position shown at '68, it is only necessary to raise upward on the chair 22 until the outer portion 164 is horizontal, and then push inward thereby allowing the modified bar 163 to slide into c-shaped channel member 16 while in rolling engagement with the rollers 64.

FIGURES l1 and 12 illustrate a further modified form for the bar 56 illustrated in FIGURE 5. The modified .form of sliding bar 116 is similar to that of bar 56 illus- FIGURE 7, when the bar 56 is pulled outward still further to the position shown for the chair 22 when in use,

such as at 67, the bar 56 is moved outward ofi the last roller 64 and'the innerend is free to tilt upward, thereby allowing the outer ,end to' drop downward which in turn allows bar 49 and the chair 22 carried thereby to drop downward. The bar 49 and the legs of the chair are of a combined length whereby when the 'bar 56 is in the position shown in FIGURE 7, the legs 24, 25, 2'7 and 28 reach the floor when they have been folded down as, illustrated for chair 22 at 67. Also, the bar 56 is of such a length and the channel member 16 is'so mounted that when the bar 56 has-moved outward to the position shown in FIGURE 7, then-the chair 22 is positioned at the correct distance from the table 21. The seat '73 then may be swiveled to the left as shown for chair 22 at 67' for easy use in seating'at the table 21.

As'best seen in FIGURE 6, the rollers cylindrical extensions 65 at each end which are inserted through openings 66 in C-shaped channel member 16 to thereby rotatably support the rollers in opening 63. The

bar 56-is mounted on top of the rollers 64 and isjfree to slide in and out of the opening 63 in channelmember 16 with little effort.

ofsliding bar 95 is provided on its innerend with a wedge} trated in FIGURE 5 with theexception of providing a notch 111 cut ashort distance from the inner'end 112. The notch 111 is cut to'provide a shoulder 113 which catches on the last roller 64 as the modified bar 116 is moved outwardQUpon moving the chair 22 from the position shown at68 to the position shown at 67, the

. bar 110 is moved outward to the position shown in FIG- URE-llyatwhich position the shoulder 113 of not ch 111 engages roller 64 and prevents. the barflit) from being moved-too tar outward. .Also, whenthe roller 64 is in the notch 111, the outer end 115 of sliding bar 110 isfree to movedownward to the position shown in FIG- and allow the bar 49 and chair 22 inturn to move 64; include:

downward and the 'legs'24, 25, 27 and 28 to reach the floor as at 67. Upon returning the chair 22 to the position shown at 68, the bar is initially in rolling engagementwith roller64 and it is readilypushed inward and returned to the position shown at 68.

The seat 78 for the chair 22' is mounted on swivel 72.

V, and it is-free'to swivel when thechair 22 is in the position shown at 67. Thus,"by providinga' bar 56 of a lengthn suflicient to. assure that the chair '22 is positioned: the:

. V. g 1 V 5 FIGURE 8 illustrates: a modified form or" the'sliding bar 56 illustrated iniFIGURES S-TQ The modified form.

correct distance from' the table when'the bar 56 is in the fully. extended position, it is possible to swivel the. seat 78 asv shown at 67,'sit in the chair andthen return the chair seat 78 to the position'sho'wn at 69 It is not IIBCGSSEIIY'tO move the chair toward the table aftersitting fore it is desiredto return the chair 22 to the posidown or out from ventional chairs.

The set screw 51 allows theeliective vertical length ofbar 4910 "be adjusted readilylso that the chair legs 24, 25 ,227 and ZSwill'reach' the il oor when-the bar 56 is' in the fully. extended position illustrated 'at ;6 7. Also; hygadjusting-the efiective length of'barf49, it is possible} the table when risingas is true of con to store a plurality of chairs 2-2 as shown at 68 at diiferent or staggered levels, as otherwise in instances when the table is small, there would not be sufficient room underneath the table top 14.

The legs 24, 25, 27 and 28 may be folded easily by pulling upward on hinge 313 for cross member 29 to the partially folded position for the legs, as best seen for chair 22 at 69 and then continuing with the folding process until the chair legs are flat, as illustrated for the chair 22 at 68. The U-shaped members 23 and 26 are free to rotate in brackets 37 and thus no difficulty is experienced in folding the legs. Also, the back legs 27 and 28 are closer together than the front legs 24 and 25, and thus may be folded therebetween as best seen for chair 22 at 69.

The back 81 folds forward easily and rests flat upon seat 78. Since the legs 24, 25, 27 and 28 also fold fiat, the entire chair may be folded into a compact assembly as illustrated at 68 which requires a minimum of storage space and may be easily pushed underneath the table top. If desired, the back 81 may be allowed to remain in the upright position and only the chair seat '78 pushed under the table top. It is also possible to provide a latching or locking means for retaining the chair 2?; in the position shown at 68, and thus prevent it from moving outward. A latch or lock is especially useful when the invention is installed aboard buses, trains, boats, and the like where vigorous side-to-side movement is often encountered. The latch or lock assures that such movement will not dislodge the stored chair at 68.

The invention is especially useful for installation aboard boats, trains, buses, house trailers, or in other instances where space is at a premium. The chairs 22 may be stored as illustrated at 68 beneath a table top 14, counter top or other type of surface, and then withdrawn by pulling outward on bar 56 to the position shown at 69. In this position, it is possible to fold the back 51 to the upright position, and unfold the legs24, 25, 27 and 28 down to the semi-unfolded position illustrated at 69, and finally to the fully unfolded position. The unfolded legs do not reach the floor at the position shown at 69. Then, the bar 56 may be pulled further outward to its fully extended position illustrated at 67, at which position the outer end of the bar 55 drops downward thereby allowing the bar 49, chair 22 and chair legs 24, 25, 27 and 28 to move downward and reach the floor. In this position, the chair 22 is the proper seating distance from the table, and the seat 76 may be swiveled to the position shown at 67, which allows one to sit in the seat 7% and the seat 78 may then be swiveled back to the position shown at 69. It is not necessary to move the chair in toward the table after sitting down, nor to move the chair outward from the table upon arising. Rather, the chair seat is merely swiveled in and out, as illustrated at 67 and 69, with the chair 22 and the legs 24, 25, 27 and 28 always remaining in the same position on the floor. When it is desired to return the chair 22 to the position of storage shown at 68, the chair 22 is lifted slightly and bar 56 is moved inward to the position shown at 69, at which position the chair is suspended from the floor. Then the legs 24, 25, 2! and 28 may be folded underneath the chair, the back 81 pushed forward to rest upon seat 78, and the folded assembly movedunder the table top 14 by pushing inward on bar 56 until the chair is in the position shown at 68.

The foregoing detailed description and the accompanying drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended as being limiting to the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: g

1. A seating device comprising a first support and a second support, the first support being above the second support, a seating means, the seating means including a seat and a seat supporting means, the seat supporting means normally resting upon the second support when the seating means is in use and supporting the seat in a position above the first support, a mounting means,

the mounting means being attached to the second support, I

the elongated member which is attached to the connecting means and the seating means connected thereto are held above the second support, the elongated member being tiltable and the said means for varying the height being effective to tilt the elongated member to thereby move the said portion attached to the connecting means downward upon movement of the elongated member from the 7 said first position to the said second position, the seating means being held in a position whereby the seat supporting means is suspended above the second support when the elongated member is in the first position, and the seating means being held in a position whereby the seat supporting means rests on the second support when the elongated member is in the second position.

2. A combined table and chair comprising a table, the

table having a plurality of legs resting upon a supporting surface which support a table top, a chair, the chair including a seat portion and a plurality of legs for supporting the seat portion, the chair legs normally resting upon the said supporting surface when the chair is in use and supporting the seat portion in a position abovethe said supporting surface, an elongated mounting means, the mounting means being attached to the underside of the table top and having an elongated opening extending therein, an elongated member, the elongated member being slidably mounted in the opening in the mounting means and movable therein between first and second positions, connecting means, the connecting means being attached to a portion of the elongated member and to the chair to thereby connect the same, the mounting means and elongated member including means responsive to movement of the elongated member between the said first and second positions for varying the height that the portion of the elongated member which is attached to the connecting means and the chair connected thereto are held above the said supporting surface, the elongated member being tiltable and the said means for varying the height being effective to tilt the elongated member to thereby move the said portion attached to the connecting means downward upon movement of the elongated member from the said first position of the said second position, the chair being held in a position whereby the chair legs are suspended above the said supporting surface when the elongated member is inthe first position, and the chair being held in a position whereby the chair legs.

rest on the said supporting surface when the elongated member is in the second position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 371,168 10/87 Boss 297 143 1,304,368 5/19 Purcell 297-143 1,473,975- 11/23 Reid 297-143 1,525,011 2/25 Stoltz 297 143 X 2,782,837 2/57 Munsen 297l42 2,956,617 10/60 'Bruderer 61131. 297 -141 3,073,648 1/63 Johnson 297-142 FOREIGN PATENTS 137,984 4 30 Switzerland) 139,107 2/20 Great Britain."

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SEATING DEVICE COMPRISING A FIRST SUPPORT AND A SECOND SUPPORT, THE FIRST SUPPORT BEING ABOVE THE SECOND SUPPORT, A SEATING MEANS, THE SEATING MEANS INCLUDING A SEAT AND A SEAT SUPPORTING MEANS, THE SEAT SUPPORTING MEANS NORMALLY RESTING UPON THE SECOND SUPPORT WHEN THE SEATING MEANS IS IN USE AND SUPPORTING THE SEAT IN A POSITION ABOVE THE FIRST SUPPORT,A MOUNTING MEANS, THE MOUNTING MEANS BEING ATTACHED TO THE SECOND SUPPORT, AN ELONGATED MEMBER, THE ELONGATED MEMBER BEING SLIDABLY CARRIED BY THE MOUNTING MEANS AND MOVABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, CONNECTING MEANS, THE CONNECTING MEANS BEING ATTACHED TO A PORTION OF THE ELONGATED MEMBER AND TO THE SEATING MEANS TO THEREBY CONNECT THE SAME, THE MOUNTING MEANS AND ELONGATED MEMBER INCLUDING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF THE ELONGATED MEMBER BETWEEN THE SAID FIRST POSITION AND THE SAID SECOND POSITION FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT THAT THE PORTION OF THE ELONGATED MEMBER WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE CONNECTING MEANS AND THE SEATING MEANS CONNECTED THERETO ARE HELD ABOVE THE SECOND SUPPORT, THE ELONGATED MEMBER BEING TILTABLE AND THE SAID MEANS FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT BEING EFFECTIVE TO TILT THE ELONGATED MEMBER TO THEREBY MOVE THE SAID PORTION ATTACHED TO THE CONNECTING MEANS DOWNWARD UPON MOVEMENT OF THE ELONGATED MEMBER FROM THE SAID FIRST POSITION TO THE SAID SECOND POSITION, THE SEATING MEANS BEING HELD IN A POSITION WHEREBY THE SEAT SUPPORTING MEANS IS SUSPENDED ABOVE THE SECOND SUPPORT WHEN THE ELONGATED MEMBER IS IN THE FIRST POSITION, AND THE SEATING MEANS BEING HELD IN A POSITION WHEREBY THE SEAT SUPPORTING MEANS RESTS ON THE SECOND SUPPORT WHEN THE ELONGATED MEMBER IS IN THE SECOND POSITION. 